British star visits Queenstown

Goldie, the British drum 'n' bass pioneer, one-time James
Bond villain and friend of Prince Harry's, says he loves
Queenstown so much he will bring his family back for a month
long holiday next year.

The energetic DJ, actor, producer, graffiti artist and
''reality television'' star, a familiar sight with his
trademark gold teeth and jewellery since his 1995
breakthrough record 'Timeless', made the most of his
free time in the Wakatipu today, before playing his only
South Island show in the resort's venue Revolver tonight.

Scottish-Jamaican Goldie, born Clifford Price, was
accompanied by friend and regular lyricist MC LowQui, of
London. They flew from Adelaide to Queenstown Airport this
morning and stayed in The Rees Hotel, took a scenic trip with
Over the Top Helicopters, plummeted to earth with NZONE
Skydive and talked about the Nevis jump at AJ Hackett Bungy.

Their experiences, reactions and comments were filmed and the
footage will be used by Tourism New Zealand and British
media.

When told the options of skydiving from either 9000ft or
15,000ft, Goldie chose the latter and said: ''When in Rome,
eat lions!

''Queenstown is in it's own world. It's like Austria, Venice
Beach and Steamboat [Colorado] all in one.

''Coming to New Zealand feels like when I was going to New
York when I was 18.''

Goldie proudly showed the Otago Daily Times the
thigh-length scar on his left leg caused by a waterskiing
accident, which kept him stationary in a hospital bed for a
month.

The former party animal, who dated Bjork, Naomi Campbell and
was married to model Sonjia Ashby, said the experience,
coupled with turning 40, six years ago, made him decide he
was ''not ready to lie down and and I was sick of getting
wasted.''

The epiphany eventually led him to New Zealand.

''What made people and countries great was being adventurous,
not sitting behind desks and getting lost in the internet,''
he said.

''You've gotta do it, you gotta do it here, do it with the
best.''

NZONE Skydive business development manager Derek Melnick said
Goldie was ''a golden nugget for us'' for the exposure in
declining northern hemisphere tourism markets it was hoped
his visit would bring.

''No English or Irish Rugby World Cup players were allowed to
skydive for the perceived danger, despite bungy jumping and
jet boating, which completely amazes us because our safety
record is pretty impeccable over 20 years,'' Mr Melnick said.

''It's highly regulated and we've probably the most
experienced tandem operators in the country.

''When the matches are done, hopefully we'll see them come
out and play here.''